The Wanna Bees to hold a release party for second album Nov. 2

Local kids indie rock band The Wanna Bees will hold a release party for their second album Nov. 2 at Martini n Nuzzi’s.

Wanna Bees photo by Jeff Harris. Courtesy Wanna Bees

This event will kick off a series of monthly kids concerts at the venue, and fans will have a chance to purchase the CD before street release Nov. 11.

Singer Chuck Riepenhoff created the band to make kids think of what they want to be when they grow up.

“This second album, Dream Big, is structured the same way as our debut, with our theme song and then four career characters with a friend who has a song too. This one’s got Mallory Vet and Stephanie Stethoscope, Pilot Pete and Penny Plane, and so on,” said Riepenhoff.

Local children’s authors Nick Rokicki and Joe Kelley will open the CD release party with a reading of their book “Pete the Popcorn.”

The release party will include raffle giveaways, including CDs, T-shirts, hats and bracelets.

Dream Big will include 10 local guest musicians, including Josh Whitney, guitarist for The Eight Fifteens.

“It was interesting to work with Chuck on this because I’ve often thought about doing kids music myself,” said Whitney. “ He’d ask my ideas for a song, I’d lay down some guitar tracks and maybe take it in a different direction than he’d originally thought up, and it worked quite well that way.”

Whitney previously worked with Riepenhoff on the Make-A-Wish Foundation benefit album Holiday Wishes.

The Wanna Bees are styled after bands like The Barenaked Ladies, Weezer and The Cars. Riepenhoff said that although the lyrical content is aimed at kids, the songs also appeal to parents.

“In the end, that’s who actually pays for the CD and merch. That’s why we aim to have the style of the music catchy and rockin’ enough for parents,” said Riepenhoff. “We see whole families out there enjoying it. It’s very rocked up.”

Riepenhoff started the band 12 years ago when his kids were young enough to watch The Wiggles. As he watched his boys grow up to their songs, he continued researching the kids music world.

“I thought, ‘Hey, I could do something like that,’” said Riepenhoff. “The market we’re in, commonly referred to as ‘Kindie music,’ has become its own genre over the last few years. It’s really blossoming.”

Riepenhoff said the most rewarding aspect of kindie music is hearing kids at concerts sing back.

“These kids are jumping and dancing around to the songs we wrote, and in a lot of cases they’re familiar with the songs,” Riepenhoff said. “With 150 kids who know the words singing back at us, it’s very cool to see.”

Upcoming shows in the Martini n Nuzzi’s kids concert series include Mr. Selley on Dec. 7, Wilson Lake and The Rock Bass on Jan. 4 and PlayDate on Feb. 1.

The CD release party will take place Nov. 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Martini n Nuzzis, located at 6023 Manley Road.

Local bands, KISS FM to raise money for International Boxing Club

Three local bands will perform during a benefit concert called the Spotlight Artist Showcase to raise money for the International Boxing Club (IBC) in Oregon, at 6 p.m. June 14.

The showcase, co-hosted by 92.5 KISS FM and IBC, will feature Harbours, The Eight Fifteens and The Last Born Sons.

“This will be our first live show together as a band and we’re very excited to launch with this project,” said Matt Beier, guitarist for Harbours. “I know the other bands who are participating, too, and they are fantastic. It’s just a nice opportunity for us to get out and showcase what we’ve done creatively.”

KISS FM’s morning show, The Morning Rush, has hosted dozens of local music artists, bands and DJs on Fridays for more than a year. However, the Spotlight Artist Showcase will be its first concert.

“It’s usually one quick song and an interview on Friday. This is a full-blown show with three live sets and all the proceeds — except for sound equipment expenses — go straight to the boxing club,” said Jodi Szczublewski, promotions director at Clear Channel Media and Entertainment.

IBC is a Toledo-based organization that engages disadvantaged 8- to 20-year-olds in their studies by using amateur boxing and boxercise “as a hook to get kids into the building and off the streets,” according to its website. Since its founding in 1998, IBC has helped more than 4,000 at-risk youth.

“We’re trying to develop champions in life,” said Harry Cummins III, IBC’s founder and executive director. “These kids have a future in our community and we can’t turn our backs on them. They don’t have anywhere to go. As adults, we need to support them and send the message that they can get out of their neighborhoods and current lifestyle. It’s key just to show that we do care as a community.”

Cummins said that IBC’s program costs about $165,000 annually and helps an average of 160 local youth every year. The program does not cost anything for participants, but requires them to meet IBC’s academic standards.

“Got to keep the grades up to put the boxing gloves on,” Cummins said. “Watching them grow up and graduate makes you so proud. I’m blessed to have these kids.”

In addition to academic services, such as a free tutoring program with University of Toledo’s Honors college, IBC provides vocational training and community service opportunities for its participants.

“Our drummer actually trains at the International Boxing Club so this is very exciting for us as a band,” said Josh Whitney, guitarist for The Eight Fifteens. “We love to do charity events. It’s our pleasure to help other people by giving back and if we can provide entertainment, too, then it’s a double whammy.”

DJ 3PM, aka local artist Casey Clark, will open Saturday’s show at 6 p.m. The bands kick off at 7 p.m. and each will play for about 45 minutes, with DJ 3PM spinning tunes between each set.

Szczublewski said she hopes to see a crowd of about 300 people and would consider making this an annual event to raise money for IBC.

Alcohol, food and band merchandise will be available for purchase at the concert, which is open to all those 21 and older. Tickets cost $15 at the door and $10 in advance at 925kissfm.com/showcase.

“We’re all stoked about it,” said Kyle Smithers, bassist for The Last Born Sons. “It’s cool just because we’re playing with guys we’ve known in town. It’s just fun to do showcases like this where we can all work together for the Toledo music scene and make a contribution for charity, too.”

Miller: If you believe

Josh Whitney of the band The Eight Fifteens is quick to point out that his track “If You Believe” was not written as a holiday song. It was, he said, written during a time of marital communication problems as a plea for peace.

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But when I heard the song for the first time, while looking for tunes for last summer’s Red Cross benefit CD, I not only wanted to include it in the 2013 holiday collection, I knew it should be the title track.

As we unveil “Holiday Wishes 3: If You Believe” this week at The Town Center at Levis Commons, I am confident in the choice. If any sentiment encapsulates the spirit of Christmas, it’s “If you believe.” Because the season is meaningless unless you believe in something. If you believe in the birth of Jesus. If you believe in Santa Claus. If you believe in family and the precious gift of life. None of it is worth the melted snow off Frosty’s back without belief.

The Eight Fifteens were gracious enough to remaster the track with some subtle holiday bells, but even without them, the song sets a tone for this year’s CD. We are offering a two-CD set with 45 songs by local musicians for $10. Every cent of the sales benefits the local chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation. Not only are you getting more than two-and-a-half hours of timeless holiday music, you are helping a family make things better for their sick child.

Do you believe in that?

Easier but harder

This is the third year for this series, and while producing the CD has become easier, compiling the music is getting more difficult — for all the right reasons. More than 80 local artists submitted tracks for this year’s project. The bad news is that it was impossible to include them all. The good news is that we have a major head start on the 2014 CD.

There are remarkable spoken-word tracks by the ethereal Suzanne Carroll, K100 mainstay Harvey Steele, WNWO newsman Jim Blue and Jennifer Rockwood, the first lady of Toledo theater. The crown jewel of this year’s spoken-word collection is a 12-minute dramatic version of “A Christmas Carol,” which, despite my clumsy editing efforts, conveys the heart and soul of the Charles Dickens classic. The all-star cast includes WSPD’s Fred LeFebvre as Scrooge (a casting masterstroke that garnered a masterful performance), Jerry Anderson as the ghost of Jacob Marley and Rick Woodell and Mary Beth Zolik of The River as Ghosts of Christmas Present and Past. Toledo Free Press Star contributors and WSPD “Eye on Your Weekend” panelists Jeff McGinnis and Jim Beard provide cameos and I am proud that my sons, Evan, 7, and Sean, 5, play the roles of the boy sent for the turkey and Tiny Tim. The entire production is held together by nuanced narration by actor/director Matthew Gretzinger.

Music producer/genius Mighty Wyte and I spent a five-hour session adding sound effects and music; it amazes me that my amateur idea could become reality in the hands of so many dedicated professionals.

Matching favorites

I freely admit that while the project exists to serve the charity, I get some personal satisfaction by matching some

of my favorite songs with some of my favorite artists. I specifically requested three songs this year and the results are far better than I could have imagined. White recorded The Pretenders’ “2000 Miles” with vulnerability and raw longing. Collins lent her talents to “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” and my guess is there will be a lot of October babies who owe their conception to the sensuality and aching desire her voice embeds in the track. Joel Zmuda brought a new take to one my old favorites, Bobby Darrin’s “A Christmas Auld Lang Syne,” and nailed every syllable of the lyrics’ humility and gratitude.

I would like to tell you the story behind every track, but two in particular merit your attention. Toledo Free Press Design Editor James A. Molnar adds to his resumé as a print, blog, TV and radio personality with an original song, “December Star.” When Molnar told me he was writing and recording a track with his friend Luke D. Rosen, a song about the passing of his mom, Paula Molnar Fels, I was a bit nervous; how would I tell a friend and co-worker if his song wasn’t up to standards?

It was an unnecessary worry.

“December Star” is a beautiful, emotional tribute that will take its place alongside the classics for those fortunate enough to hear it. Thank you, James.

Another remarkable track, which like “If You Believe” was not conceived as a holiday song, is Jeff Stewart’s “Sleepyhead.” The intimate, heartbreaking track encompasses just two people, a long, cold night and snowy roads; it contains a hook that could be a line from a novel: “She writes ‘I am fragile’ with the refrigerator magnets/There’s many more words to choose from but she picks this and its fragments.” Stewart reveals more about the inner workings of his characters in four minutes than many films do in two hours. If Stewart’s new CD maintains the quality of “Sleepyhead” and his Red Cross track, “Little One,” he will deliver a masterpiece.

Many champions

As always, there were many champions who helped make this project a reality. In addition to literally hundreds of artists, I owe gratitude to Christopher Stoll of Audioflare Recording Studio in Holland, who locked himself away for days to record nearly half of the CD’s tracks; Wyte, who engineers the disc and this year contributes a cinematic, booming re-imagining of “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” that will rattle your car windows; attorney Larry Meyer, who researches the publishing rights of each cover song to make sure the proper writers get paid; and Casey Pogan, who has worked tirelessly to give the CD a distribution home at The Town Center of Levis Commons, specifically Blue Pacific Grill, Build It!, C Sterling Jewelers, Flying Joe, Lily’s, Poco Piatti, Salvatore Capelli Hair Spa & Beauty Lounge, Second Sole, Vivian Kate, Yankee Candle and The Town Center Management Office.

If, like me, you are blessed with healthy children, you understand another of my motivations for this project — not ever taking that health for granted, and offering work and contribution as a way of displaying that gratitude and eternal thanks.

There are more people to thank than I have space for, but every one of you should know in your heart that I believe in you and that your efforts will bring hope and belief to many, many local families. Thanks to you, many people will believe, like I believe, in the spirit and love of the season.

I believe. Do you?

Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star and news director for 1370 WSPD. Email him at mmiller@toledofreepress.com.

Musicians come together for Acoustics for Autism

About 30 local musical acts will gather March 10 to rock out in support of Project iAm, a charity that provides scholarships to children with autism.

This is the sixth year of the event called Acoustics for Autism. The concert, which features three stages, is the result of founder Nicole Khoury’s hard work. The attorney started Project iAm after speaking with her best friend, whose child has autism, about the financial difficulties that families whose children have autism can face.

“I’ve seen the struggles of these families. They’re the people who need the money for their treatment and therapy and unfortunately there aren’t a lot of resources at all,” Khoury said.

Khoury’s band Arctic Clam is one of the bands playing at the show, which takes place at The Village Idiot and Buster Brown’s Lounge. Each venue features a stage and a heated tent will house kid-friendly activities and a third stage.

Many of the bands playing have been part of the event for years, Khoury said. Her band plays at 6:15 p.m. on The Village Idiot stage.

“It’s just an awesome, feel-good event. The musicians that are there want to support us and not because they want to put it on their resume,” Khoury said.

One of those musicians is Dave Carpenter, who will play with The Jaeglers at 8:15 p.m. on The Village Idiot stage. Carpenter helped co-found the concert six years ago.

Carpenter said when they started the event, he didn’t foresee it becoming as big as it is today.

“I jokingly say to Nicole, ‘It’s like pushing a snowball off a mountain.’ It just continues to build,” he said, adding that the musicians who keep coming back make it successful.

“I really want to highlight all the other musicians that have really helped us out. These musicians have donated their time on a Sunday.”

Playing on a Sunday is one of the things singer-songwriter Kyle White enjoys about Acoustics for Autism.

“It’s nice that it’s on a Sunday and I get to see all my musician friends,” White said. “We all play the same nights [the rest of the week].”

White, who has been involved with the annual concert since its start, also emphasized, “The energy’s always just amazing. All of the best music in the city is there in one day, so that’s always a bonus.”

White is set to play at 3:10 p.m. on The Village Idiot stage.

Another featured musician is John Barile, who is set to play with Bobby May at 3:50 p.m. on The Village Idiot stage.

“[Project iAm] does such a good job promoting [the concert] and it’s a great cause,” Barile said. “[Khoury’s] just a fantastic person.”

He said his favorite part of Acoustics for Autism is “the camaraderie of all us musicians coming together for a great cause.”

Jeff Stewart will play with the 25’s at 7:15 p.m. at The Village Idiot stage. Like Khoury, he has a personal connection to the concert’s cause.

“One of my best friends has a son that’s autistic and I know what he goes through,” he said. “It’s great to do this thing for the kids.”

He added that he is looking forward to playing at The Village Idiot.

“The Village Idiot is a small little community bar. … I’m looking forward to drinking the beer, eating the pizza and playing the music,” Stewart said.

The musicians also include The Eight-Fifteens. Pat Lewandowski, Calen Savidge, Brian Bocian, Zak Ward, Flabongo Nation and several others. DJ Sid will play between sets.

The concert also features chances for attendees to score some loot with a raffle, prize vault and silent auction.

Prizes include an iPad, an Ohio State University University of Michigan cornhole board with signed merchandise, a bat signed by Prince Fielder, a ball signed by Miguel Cabrera and a one-week stay in a Charleston, S.C., condo.

There is no admission fee at the door so all proceeds are made from donations and bidding.

Khoury said, “We don’t charge to get in. We hope you make a donation at the door, but you’ll never see us pushing stuff. I mean, I might have a cute little girl running around selling wristbands that you just can’t help but give her money, but we don’t sit there and say, ‘Donate, donate, donate!’ We hope you come in and feel the love at the event and want to donate.”

Last year’s Acoustics for Autism event made about $15,000 and a second concert with Pittsburgh-based Rusted Root made $12,000.

Community partners also chip in for different supplies and prizes, Khoury said.

Last year, the nonprofit helped three or four families with treatment, therapy and other needs, she said. The criteria for receiving scholarship funds are available at www.aboutprojectiam.com/scholarships.php.

Khoury stressed that volunteering helps give applicants an edge.

“My main plea to people, parents who are applying, is get involved with this charity. We don’t ask for much of you; you know, volunteering for an event, or if you can’t get out of the house, I’ve got plenty of things for you to do at home. There’s a lot of grunt work that gets laid on my shoulders that I will happily delegate,” she said.

Those wishing to help with Acoustics for Autism can contact Khoury at info@aboutprojectiam.com. To learn more and see a complete schedule, visit http://acousticsforautism.com/.

The Village Idiot is located at 309 Conant St., Maumee, and Buster Brown’s is at 313 Conant St., Maumee. Acoustics for Autism starts at noon March 10 and runs until 2 a.m.